Rfid tag assembly and method of managing a race

ABSTRACT

A race management system which includes an RFID tag located between an inner and outer layer and is removably secured to a participant&#39;s bib through a mounting film. The inner layer is secured to a second inner layer having at least one fold line and an adhesive portion outward of the at least one fold line. The RFID tag is secured around a portion of the participant&#39;s shoe and is activated by at least one antenna to transmit identification data encoded on the tag. The encoded data corresponds to indicia printed on the bib and allows automatic collection of running times.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The invention relates generally to a customizable RFID tag, racemanagement system, and a method of managing a race. More particularly,the invention relates to an RFID tag that is attached to a bib andremovable to secure the RFID tag to a race participant as well ascoordinate user specific race, identification, and health information.Specifically, the invention relates to an embedded RFID tag which issecured to a bib and removed by the participant to secure around his/hershoelaces in order to provide participant start/stop times, medications,allergies, and other relevant medical information as well as relate theparticipant's race number to the participant's RFID tag.

2. Background Information

Race organizers have traditionally struggled to coordinate runners withtheir assigned running numbers due to the potentially large number ofcompetitors. When competitors register for the race, they are generallyassigned a bib with a number that can be affixed to their shirt. Thenumber is associated with the runner's name, address, and medicalinformation which may be maintained in a database. In well known racessuch as the Boston Marathon, more than 20,000 runners participate andthe organizers are forced to write down the finishing time of eachrunner as he or she crosses the finish line. Thus, the industry isconstantly in search of improvements that can reduce the number oforganizers required to monitor the finish line and increase theefficiency of the finish line timing.

Once a race begins, there is generally only one official timer, meaningthe runners who are 20,000 people behind the starting line are at asevere disadvantage since they must wait for all of the runners in frontof them to begin running and cross the start line before they can beginthe race. The runners not only have to travel a further distance, butalso suffer from additional time being included in their race time.Thus, the industry is constantly in search of improvements that canprovide more accurate race results for each individual runner so thateach runner is able to accurately gauge his or her actual performance.Further, runners have not been able to measure and compare theirindividual performances at various stages throughout the race.

Marathons are endurance races that require a great deal of stamina andstrength to finish. Unfortunately, not all runners are mentally andphysically fit enough to finish the marathon. The runners may becomedehydrated and eventually pass-out or injure themselves. In order totreat the injured or dehydrated runner, the organizers have to verifyany medical information listed on his or her bib. Therefore organizerslose valuable seconds ensuring that they are fully aware of any medicalissues the runner may have or will not be able to verify the runner'smedical history if the bib were to fall off or become unreadable.

Finally, runners tend to perspire a great deal during a marathon and maycause any information located on the bib to bleed and become unreadable.Since, as mentioned above, it is very important that organizers haveaccess to the medical and personal information on the bib; runners havebeen required to use certain writing instruments or special bibs thatprevent the information from being washed away. Thus there is ademonstrated need for a race management system which is capable ofaccurately timing each individual runner at various stages of the race,can provide information about the runner as necessary, and capable ofoperating in a damp environment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The race management system of the present invention comprises a bibarranged to receive printed indicia, a programmable tag secured betweenan outer layer and an inner layer, a mounting film fixedly secured tothe bib, and the inner layer is releasably secured to the mounting film.The outer and inner layers further comprise a first end and at least onefold line. The inner layer includes an adhesive layer between the firstend and the at least one fold line. The inner and outer layers furtherinclude at least one second fold line defining an outer portion and theadhesive portion is fixedly secured to the outer portion in a generallyround nature. The race management system further includes printedindicia on the bib corresponding to data encoded in the programmabletag. An antenna may be disposed on the course which activates theprogrammable tag and the programmable tag transmits the encoded data tothe antenna. Further, the bib and programmable tag are separable.

The method of managing a race of the present invention compriseslocating a programmable tag between an outer layer and an inner layer,securing the inner layer to a second inner layer having an adhesiveportion on a first end, releasably securing the second inner layer to amounting film, fixedly securing the mounting film to a bib, anddisposing at least one antenna on a race route. The method furtherincludes printing indicia on the bib and encoding the programmable tagwith data corresponding to the printed indicia. The method also includesremoving the encoded programmable tag from the bib and locating theprogrammable tag underneath at least one securing object. The methodfurther includes securing the adhesive portion to a second end of thesecond inner layer, rotating the adhesive portion of the programmabletag below the at least one securing object, and transmitting the data tothe at least one antenna.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiments of the invention, illustrative of the bestmodes in which Applicant has contemplated applying the principles of theinvention, are set forth in the following description and are shown inthe drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a front face of a preferred embodiment bibwith a printed participant's number and an RFID tag removably secured;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment RFID tagremovably secured to a mounting film;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment RFID tag beingremoved from the mounting film;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment RFID tag takengenerally along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the RFID tag of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment bib with aprinted participant's number and an RFID tag being removed from the bib;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment RFID tag beingremoved from the bib taken generally along line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the back-side of a preferred embodimentRFID tag removed from the mounting film and the adhesive of the firstend being exposed;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a preferred embodiment RFID tag insertedunder four laces and the adhesive strip of the first end secured to thesecond end;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a preferred embodiment RFID tag beingrotated so that the RFID tag is distal the laces;

FIG. 11 is a side view of a participant with a present invention RFIDtag secured to the participant's shoe and being activated by an antenna;and,

FIG. 12 is a side view of a participant with a present invention bibhaving an RFID tag removably secured thereon and being activated by anantenna.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers ondifferent drawing views identify identical, or functionally similar,structural elements of the invention. While the present invention isdescribed with respect to what is presently considered to be thepreferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention asclaimed is not limited to the disclosed aspects.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods, devicesor materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be usedin the practice or testing of the invention, the preferred methods,devices, and materials are now described.

The race management system of the present invention is indicatedgenerally at bib 20, as is particularly shows in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3. Bib20 is arranged to attach to a runner or participant through holes 22A,22B, 22C, and 22D or with releasable adhesive (not shown). Bib 20 is athin sheet and can be composed of paper, plastic, or other suitablematerial which is capable of being printed on. RFID tag assembly 24 isshown affixed to the front face of bib 20, but could also be affixed tothe back face or any other side. The bib is further shown with indicia25 printed on the front face.

In accordance with one of the main features of the present invention,the following should be viewed in light of FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 5 whichillustrate various views of a preferred embodiment RFID tag assembly 24.If RFID tag assembly 24 is shipped separately from bib 20, then RFID tagassembly 24 is originally removably secured to a top side of a mountingfilm 26 with a dry release, evaporative, or similar adhesive (describedinfra) until the manufacturer or participant peels the assembly upwards.Alternatively, RFID tag assembly 24 may be shipped directly attached tobib 20. In this situation, an adhesive layer must secure the RFID tagassembly to the bib, but leave a clean residual and adhesive-freesurface when the assembly is removed. In this situation, the RFID tagassembly 24 tag must be removable from bib 20 while leaving a permanentadhesive layer and covering on bib 20 even once the RFID tag assembly 24is removed.

Averting now to FIGS. 4 and 5, RFID tag assembly 24 preferably includesRFID tag 28 positioned between outer layer 30 and inner layer 32. RFIDtag 28 is a typical passive radio-frequency identification device withan integrated circuit which can be encoded with data. The RFID tag doesnot have an internal power supply and is powered by a radio frequencyemitted from an antenna (described infra). The RFID tag may thenbackscatter the emitted frequency to the antenna which provides theidentification and encoded data of the RFID tag. While the RFID tag ofthe present invention has been described as a passive tag, it is withinthe spirit and scope of the present invention as claimed to incorporatean active, semi-active, or other powered RFID tag. Further, while thepresent invention is described incorporating an RFID tag, anyprogrammable tag or chip may be used and is within the spirit and scopeof the invention as claimed.

Outer layer 30 and inner layer 32 are preferably composed ofpolypropylene or other similarly suitable water-proof material which isapproximately 2.6 mils, or approximately 2.6 thousandths of an inchthick. While a thickness of 2.6 mils is preferred for the inner andouter layers, the present invention is not limited to any particularthickness for each individual component or the RFID tag assemblycollectively. Adhesive layer 30A assures that layers 30 and 32 areadhered to each other and to RFID tag 28.

In accordance with another of the main features of the invention, Innerlayer 32 is fixedly secured to the top side of synthetic material 34which is generally firm and provides support while maintainingflexibility. The synthetic material is stamped with fold lines 36 and 37across the width, or shorter side, of RFID tag assembly 24. Fold lines36 and 37 are located approximately one-half of an inch outward of RFIDtag 28. The bottom side of synthetic material 34 may include a liner(not shown) which can be removed. In a preferred embodiment, all of theliner is removed except for approximately one-half of an inch at oneend. Additional layer of permanent adhesive 44 secures intermediatelayer 40 to synthetic material 34 on the area from which the liner wasremoved. Accordingly, intermediate layer 40 encompasses the majority ofthe bottom surface of synthetic material 34 and is on virtually the sameplane as remaining one-half inch of liner 42 located on first end 43.The dry release, evaporative, or similar adhesive 46, described supra,is merged onto intermediate layer 40 and remaining one-half inch ofliner 42 to removably secure the RFID tag to mounting film 26. Moreparticularly, and referring to FIG. 7, intermediate layer 40 includes atop layer 40A and bottom layer 40B which are split apart as RFID tag 28is removed from bib 20.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment bib 20 with RFIDtag assembly 24 being removed from bottom layer 40B of intermediatelayer 40 in an upward and peeling motion in the direction indicated byarrow 48. FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken generally along line 7-7 inFIG. 6 with RFID tag assembly 24 being removed from bottom layer 40Bwhich is in turn permanently secured to bib 20 with adhesive 46.

RFID tag assembly 24 is then applied to bib 20 which may include indicia25 printed thereon. If the RFID tag assembly is applied to a bib thatalready includes indicia 25, then the RFID tag assembly will be printedand encoded with the number or data corresponding to indicia 25. If bib20 does not include indicia 25 at this point, then the combination biband RFID tag assembly are sent through a process which encodes the RFIDtag with a number or data that corresponds to indicia that is printed onthe bib during the same process.

Averting to FIG. 8, RFID tag assembly 24 is shown removed from bottom40B of intermediate layer 40 and turned upside-down. The participantthen removes liner 42 in the direction indicated by arrow 52 to exposeadhesive 44. Although adhesive 44 has been described as permanent, it iswithin the spirit and scope of the present invention as claimed toinclude a semi-permanent adhesive, a releasable adhesive, or a hook andloop connection which allows the RFID tag assembly to remain securelyfastened to the participant during use and still be removed.

As can be seen, the applicant envisions that RFID tag assembly 24 may beshipped on attached mounting film 26 as is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Ifthe product is shipped not attached to bib 20, then top layer 40A willhave to be removed from bottom layer 40B which remains attached tomounting film 26. Alternatively, RFID tag assembly 24 may be shippedapplied directly to bib 20 such that mounting film 26 exists only in thefactory and is not seen by the race participant.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate RFID tag assembly 24 being secured to aparticipant's shoe prior to a race. After liner 42 is removed andadhesive 44 is exposed, the participant inserts RFID tag assembly 24 inan upside-down orientation underneath laces 54 of his/her shoe. Theparticipant then folds RFID tag assembly 24 first along fold line 37 andthen along fold line 36 in the direction of arrow 56 to encircle laces54 and secure the assembly with adhesive 44.

The participant then rotates RFID tag assembly 24 in the direction ofarrow 58 or 60 so that the bowed portion 62 of the RFID tag assemblyprojects away from laces 54. Advantageously, in the preferredembodiment, the offset arrangement of the fold lines ensures that bowedportion 62, which houses the RFID tag, is less likely to be affected bythe damp environment created by wet or sweaty shoes since the RFID tagis spaced away from the participant's body and/or shoes. In addition,the RFID tag is able to receive the antenna radio frequency and transmitdata more efficiently in the bowed arrangement.

FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate preferred embodiments of the presentinvention with participant 64 running past antenna 66. FIG. 11 showsRFID tag assembly 24 secured to the participant's shoe as describedinfra and antenna 66 emitting a radio frequency which powers RFID tagassembly 24 and transmits the data encoded in the RFID tag back to theantenna.

FIG. 12 shows participant 64 wearing bib 20 with RFID tag assembly 24secured to the bib. The RFID tag assembly operates in a fashion similarto the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11, with the exceptionof antenna 66 location. Since the RFID tag is located on the chest ofthe participant, antenna 66 must be elevated to ensure that the RFID tagreceives the radio frequency emitted by the antenna.

Although the present invention has been described as secured through atleast one lace, it is within the spirit and scope of the presentinvention as claimed to be secured to any suitable portion of aparticipant, including but not limited to a shoe, bracelet, belt, wristor ankle.

Having now described the structure and method of manufacturing the RFIDtag assembly and the bib, a method of managing a race will be describedin detail.

Participant 64 is assigned an identification number which corresponds toindicia 25 and the data encoded on RFID tag 28. First, RFID tag 28 islocated between outer layer 30 and inner layer 32. Next, inner layer 32is secured to synthetic material 34 and the synthetic material isreleasably secured to bib 20 which has indicia 25 corresponding to theparticipant's identification number printed thereon. RFID tag 28 is thenencoded with data corresponding to the participant's assignedidentification number.

Prior to the race beginning, the participant removes the encoded RFIDtag from the bib and encircles at least one lace by securing adhesive 44to RFID tag assembly 24. The participant then rotates the RFID tagassembly in the direction of arrow 58 or 60 to project bowed portion 62away from laces 54. Further, radio frequency emitting antennas 66 aredisposed at multiple locations throughout the course, including but notlimited to, the start line and the finish line.

After the race begins, the antennas are activated and as participant 64passes antenna 66, the RFID tag 28 is powered by antenna 66 andparticipant's identification number encoded in the tag is transmittedback to the antenna and records the participant's start or stop time, asapplicable. Further, a plurality of antennas may be disposed throughoutthe course to provide participant's with various sectional completiontimes.

Further, RFID tag 28 may include health information such as medicationsthe participant is currently taking, allergies, blood type, and medicalinsurance carrier. If a participant were to be injured or pass out, arace coordinator or medic would be able to activate the RFID tag andobtain all of the necessary information to treat the participant withoutlosing valuable time. However, in the preferred embodiment, RFID tag 28would include a five-digit number that is related to or exactlycorresponds to indicia printed on bib 20. This number would correspondto an electronic file in a data base to allow race managers to access avariety of information available about the race participant which mayinclude, but is not limited to, medical information, necessary allergiesand the like, as well as citizenship, telephone number, next of kin andaddress. However, a variety of information could be provided withoutdeparting from the spirit of the present invention.

Accordingly, the RFID tag assembly is an effective, safe, inexpensive,and efficient device that achieves all the enumerated objectives of theinvention, provides for eliminating difficulties encountered with priorart devices, systems, and methods, and solves problems and obtains newresults in the art.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity,clearness, and understanding; but no unnecessary limitations are to beimplied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art, because suchterms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadlyconstrued.

Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is by way ofexample, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exactdetails shown or described.

Having now described the features, discoveries, and principles of theinvention, the manner in which the RFID tag is constructed and used, thecharacteristics of the construction, and the advantageous new and usefulresults obtained; the new and useful structures, devices, elements,arrangement, parts, combinations, and methods are set forth in theappended claims.

1. A race management system comprising: a bib arranged to receiveprinted indicia; a programmable tag secured between an outer layer andan inner layer; a mounting film fixedly secured to said bib; and saidinner layer releasably secured to said mounting film.
 2. The racemanagement system of claim 1 wherein said outer layer and said innerlayer further comprise a first end and at least one fold line.
 3. Therace management system of claim 2 wherein said inner layer furthercomprises an adhesive layer between said first end and said at least onefold line.
 4. The race management system of claim 3 wherein said innerlayer and said outer layer further comprise at least one second foldline defining an outer portion and said adhesive portion is fixedlysecured to said outer portion.
 5. The race management system of claim 4wherein said inner and outer portion are generally round in nature uponfixedly securing said adhesive portion to said outer portion.
 6. Therace management system of claim 4 wherein said inner layer and saidouter layer form an annular region adapted to encircle a portion of atleast one lace upon fixedly securing said adhesive portion to said outerportion.
 7. The race management system of claim 6 wherein saidprogrammable tag is spaced away from said at least one lace.
 8. The racemanagement system of claim 1 further comprising indicia printed on saidbib, wherein data corresponding to said indicia is encoded in saidprogrammable tag.
 9. The race management system of claim 8 furthercomprising an antenna, wherein said antenna activates said programmabletag to transmit said encoded data to said antenna.
 10. The racemanagement system of claim 1 wherein said programmable tag is anelectronic chip.
 11. The race management system of claim 1 wherein saidprogrammable tag is a radio frequency identification tag.
 12. The racemanagement system of claim 1 further comprising a second inner layersecured to said inner layer on a side opposed to said programmable tag.13. The race management system of claim 1 wherein said bib and saidprogrammable tag are separable.
 14. A method of managing a racecomprising: locating a programmable tag between an outer layer and aninner layer; securing said inner layer to a second inner layer having anadhesive portion on a first end; releasably securing said second innerlayer to a mounting film; fixedly securing said mounting film to a bib;and disposing at least one antenna on a race route.
 15. The method ofclaim 14 further comprising: printing indicia on said bib; and encodingsaid programmable tag with data corresponding to said indicia.
 16. Themethod of claim 15 further comprising: removing said encodedprogrammable tag from said bib; and locating said programmable tagunderneath at least one securing object;
 17. The method of claim 16further comprising: securing said adhesive portion to a second end ofsaid second inner layer; rotating said adhesive portion of saidprogrammable tag below said at least one securing object; andtransmitting said data to said at least one antenna.
 18. The method ofclaim 15 further comprising: activating said programmable tag with saidat least one antenna; and transmitting said data to said at least oneantenna.